Work Text:
A java joint wasn’t his dream, but Grimmjow couldn’t say no to his cousin Nel. Not when she’d drop everything to help him if he needed it. They were like siblings, and they lived in a college town, so it wasn’t like there were that many options for businesses.
Nel called, “Mochiato with extra whip!”
Grimmjow glanced over the espresso maker into the shop’s dining room. The shop was small with three tables that fit two chairs each and two extra chairs for pickup orders by the door. They had a cramped display case for bakery items and a long, narrow counter for pickups. It was all Nel’s lease could afford, and all Grimmjow could dig up from rummage sales and restaurant buyouts.
Grimmjow scanned the line of customers until he spotted the goth guy. His hair was pulled back today, and held with a bat alligator clip. A single wisp fell over his hooked nose. His eye makeup looked heavier than usual, and both lips were black instead of one. There were inverted crosses and green studs in his ears. Must have been out in town, or something.
Today, the goth wore a shirt too big for him that exposed a pale shoulder and the mesh top underneath. He also wore tight jeans with rips in both knees. He stared at his phone and tapped at the screen, lost to whatever he was working on.
Goth Boy had come in every day since the shop opened a year ago. Always ordered the same thing, too. Extra large mocha with extra whipped cream, six double-chocolate chip cookies, and a strawberry scone.
Grimmjow poured the coffee and added the whipped cream. He carried the cup over to Nel who handed the goth his bag of sweets. The goth pocketed his phone, nodded to them both, and headed to the same corner table he sat at every day. Then he opened his messenger bag covered in bat pins and badges and pulled out his laptop. Also covered in bats.
He started to type with one hand while the other shoved cookies into his mouth.
Grimmjow didn’t know how the guy had any teeth left, or how he kept so damn thin.
Nel startled next to Grimmjow. “Oh, shoot! Ulquiorra! I forgot your change!”
The goth looked up. Nel knew his name? The guy never gave it for any of his orders. Nel hurried over with the coins.
“Thank you, Nelliel.” Ulquiorra slipped them into his pocket.
Nel smiled. “Hey, I have some imperfect peanut butter cookies Grimmjow made this morning. We can’t sell them. Do you want them?”
Ulquiorra looked at Grimmjow. It felt like looking at a doll. “You bake the cookies?”
Grimmjow crossed his arms. “So what?”
He knew what he looked like. Dyed and styled hair. Angry eyes. Broad shoulders in a tight tee with a frilly apron. He tried to talk Nel out of the lace, but she had her heart set on heart shaped aprons. He gave in, so long as his was blue.
Ulquiorra was still looking. Not blinking. It was weird.
Grimmjow bared his teeth. “Got a problem with it?”
Ulquiorra shook his head. “No. I’m happy to confirm which of you makes the better cookie.”
The hell did that mean? Grimmjow huffed and tossed the bag of rejects to Nel. She placed them beside Ulquiorra’s first bag.
Ulquiorra nodded to her before he removed his headphones. They were the kind that fit over his head. Old school with soft edges to block sound. He slipped them over his head and returned his attention to his laptop. Probably writing angsty fanfiction.
Nel rounded the counter and elbowed Grimmjow in the ribs. She hissed, “Be nice.”
Grimmjow grunted. “What’s his deal?”
“He’s our best customer, Grimm. Who cares what his deal is?” Nel grabbed a rag to wipe down the counter.
“Who orders a half dozen cookies and eats them in a sitting every day?” That was a recipe for diabetes.
“Him. Leave him alone.” Nel narrowed her eyes and headed into the kitchen.
Grimmjow rolled his eyes and started to stock the cabinets. When he finished that, he moved onto cleaning and prepping the machines. He considered doing inventory when his attention drifted toward Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra had stopped typing. He rested his chin on his hand and stared at his screen. Their eyes met a few times, but Ulquiorra always averted his attention back to his computer.
Grimmjow blew air between his teeth. Whatever.
Ulquiorra sat up straight and peered into the paper bag. He even shook it to dump crumbs into his hand. He stood up and walked over to the counter.
He asked, “Do you have any more of the peanut butter cookies? I’ll pay for them.”
Grimmjow arched a brow. “Ain’t you had enough sugar?” He looked Ulquiorra up and down. Even with the oversized shirt, he could tell Ulquiorra was a scrawny thing.
Ulquiorra stared at the display case filled with their baked goods. He ignored Grimmjow’s question. “Nelliel offered me the double-chocolate, and I had no desire for anything else.”
Grimmjow rested a hand on the counter. He was starting to get a picture of what Ulquiorra’s deal was. Guy was autistic. Alright, maybe he could be a little nicer. “Never wanted to try the others?”
“It was before you were hired. I only ordered one cookie then. They taste much better now. Or they do on days you work.” Ulquiorra lifted his eyes to Grimmjow’s chest.
Grimmjow felt a little swell of pride at that. He’d always liked baking. “She never did have much luck makin’ cookies.” Grimmjow moved toward the case with a new bag. He paused and looked at Ulquiorra who appeared to be… vibrating. Stimming? “You know if you get diabetes, you can’t sue. Right?”
Ulquiorra wrinkled his nose. “Why would I contract diabetes?”
It wasn’t worth the explanation. “Never mind. Here.” Grimmjow handed over the bag.
Ulquiorra offered Grimmjow a fifty dollar bill. Grimmjow’s eyes widened. That was more than he’d ever gotten, even on a large order. But it would help Nel expand. Grimmjow accepted it and slipped it into the tip jar behind the counter.
He watched Ulquiorra return to his spot, replace his headphones, and continue his typing. Grimmjow hummed and went back to work. Maybe the goth wasn’t so bad.
~*~
The next day was the same thing except now Ulquiorra ordered three double-chocolate and three peanut butter.
Grimmjow sighed. “How he doesn’t have a stomachache every day, I’ll never know.”
“He runs. A lot.” Nel offered up while she mopped behind the counter.
Grimmjow tilted his head. He couldn’t imagine the little goth twink running the field. Ulquiorra’s eyes flickered toward him. Their gazes locked, lingered, until Ulquiorra jerked his attention away. His cheeks were bright red, and he hurried to shove a cookie into his mouth.
Oh.
Oh.
~*~
It was the same the next day. And the next. For months, Ulquiorra came in and ordered six cookies. Sometimes he changed, when Grimmjow could convince him to try a new flavor. He had Ulquiorra buying six different ones now. It was… nice.
Grimmjow walked out from behind the counter. “Hey.”
Ulquiorra looked up. “Hello, Grimmjow.”
Grimmjow sat down across from Ulquiorra. Rested his hands on the tabletop. “What do you do on your computer all day?”
Nel hissed, “Don’t be rude!”
“It’s not rude.” Ulquiorra shook his head. “I’m an editor.”
“For books an’ shit?” Grimmjow pegged him as a data analyst or something.
Nel shouted, “Grimm! Language!”
No one else was in the shop. It was fine.
Ulquiorra nodded. “Yes. Mostly non fiction, but I occasionally am requested to read fiction. I enjoy that.”
“Well, that explains why you need that much sugar and caffeine. But where do you put it all?” Grimmjow rested his chin on his hand and smiled. The little twink was kinda easy on the eyes.
Ulquiorra scrunched his nose. “What?”
It was kinda cute, Ulquiorra’s obliviousness. Now Grimmjow knew it wasn’t intentional. “See you’re kinda slow on the uptake. Anyone who eats six to twelve cookies a day and drinks the amount of coffee you do should be fat as a cow.”
“Oh.” Ulquiorra flattened a hand over his stomach. “I do exercise. I run in the morning and at night.”
Grimmjow hummed. “Nel said you ran. So what? Are we your office?”
“I… suppose. It’s easy to think here. It’s quiet.” Ulquiorra nodded.
“And you like my cookies.” Grimmjow grinned. He wondered what else Ulquiorra might like.
“I do, yes. And I like watching you.” Ulquiorra’s eyes lowered to his hands. His fingers twitched, tapping out a rapid tempo against the table.
Grimmjow paused. “What?”
“When I take breaks to rest my eyes. I watch you. I’ve noticed you’ve been trying out new recipes. I’d like to try them.” Ulquiorra leaned back in his chair.
Grimmjow thought about the notebook behind the counter. Ulquiorra had seen him scribbling down ideas? “You’ve been watching me?”
“When I have breaks, yes.” Ulquiorra nodded.
Grimmjow felt himself laugh. Ulquiorra was weird, but cute. Genuine. It was nice compared to the other people in Grimmjow’s life. To his exes.
Grimmjow stood up and tugged off his apron. “Hey, you wanna get real food?”
Ulquiorra’s brow furrowed. “Real food?”
“Yeah. I’ll show you what else I can make.” Grimmjow tossed his apron to Nel and started for the exit.
Ulquiorra closed his laptop and tucked it into his bag. He stood up. “Alright. Is it a date?”
Grimmjow smirked. “Sure is. Come on. My place ain’t far.”
Grimmjow opened the door and waited for Ulquiorra to follow. He spotted Nel shaking her head but smiling. Hey, he was being nice. He was gonna be real nice, even.